Hubble Finds Vast Reservoir of Gas Near Milky Way

The Milky Way may have found a solution to its gas shortage. Astronomers had calculated that our home galaxy possesses only enough fuel to forge new stars for just a few billion more years. But scientists have now discovered that a long stream of gas falling into the Milky Way is four times as massive as previously thought and could power our galaxy's starmaking career for a long time to come.

"It's a very beautiful study with surprising results," says a leading astronomer who was not part of the project.

Full story is at ScienceNOW and includes an outstanding image of the Magellanic Stream.